Amy Shaw Shatters Breaststroke Mark

CLOVIS, Calif. -- Fast times at Clovis West High continued Tuesday night at the U.S. Swimming Long Course Nationals.

Mission Viejo`s Amy Shaw became the first American to break 2:30 in the women`s 200-meter breaststroke. Shaw, 16, was clocked in 2:29.78.

In the preliminaries, Shaw broke Susan Rapp`s American record of 2:31.15, with a 2:30.77 clocking. She bettered her own mark in the final.

Mission Bay`s Susan Johnson, 17, was second in 2:32.44.

``I felt a lot more confident after I swam fast this morning,`` Shaw said.``I still had a lot left.

``Tonight was an all-out effort. When I heard the announcer yell that I was on pace for an American record I knew I had a shot. I just wanted to keep going faster. I knew Susan was closing in.

``I don`t think this is going to be the last American record to fall here. This is a really fast pool, and everyone seems to be up for this meet.``

Steven Bentley, a recovering drug addict, made it 4 for 4 in American records in the meet`s first four events, when he shattered the men`s 200-meter breaststroke record in 2:15.30.

The record, held by Olympic gold-medalist Steve Lundquist, was 2:15.38 set Aug. 3, 1983 in the same Clovis pool.

Bentley`s time is also the fastest in the world this year.

``It really got me going to see the other American records go,`` said Bentley, a senior at the University of Southern California. ``Janet Evans started it off Monday night and the momentum just continued through to tonight.

``I watched Janet and thought to myself, `I`m going to do something great, too.` The adrenaline was just flowing. I guess I have a lot more energy in the finals.``

The men`s and women`s 800-meter freestyle American records fell Monday. Evans won the women`s event in 8:22.44, and Sean Killion won the men`s in 7:52.45.

Mission Bay had another runner-up Tuesday night in the 200-meter backstroke when Dan Veatch finished second to Scott Johnson in 2:02.13.

Another top local finisher was Barbara Metz of the Pine Crest Swim Club, who finished sixth in the women`s 200-meter butterfly in 2:14.10.

American record-holder Pablo Morales was upset in the men`s 200-meter butterfly.

Melvin Stewart, 18, of the Mecklenburg Aquatics Club, won in 1:58.13. Morales finished fourth in 2:01.08.